Editorial - The agricultural challenges of COP 28

The 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties—commonly referred to as COP 28—will take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. What can we expect from this closely watched edition? Will this COP be an opportunity to discuss agriculture even more, a topic at the heart of climate change issues? Discover the analysis by Precila Rambhunjun, research manager at the FARM Foundation.

The 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties – commonly referred to as COP28 – will take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This annual event often elicits disappointment from observers around the world who believe that action against climate change, particularly the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, is insufficient.

So, what can we expect from this new edition, which will be closely scrutinized? Its main objective will be to take stock, and for the first time, of the Paris Agreement adopted in 2015. This assessment should highlight the efforts still required by the 196 signatory countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which have not all kept their initial commitments. But it is also an ideal opportunity to increase collective ambitions in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.

This COP will also be an opportunity, we hope, to discuss agriculture even more, a topic at the heart of climate issues. Agriculture and food systems are both culprits because they are high greenhouse gas emitters, and they are also victims of global warming. The news of recent weeks, between heat waves, droughts, and floods, has reminded us of this.

Finally, let's not forget that agricultural production is part of the solutions, with practices that allow carbon to be stored in the soil, a subject on which we are working closely. with our partner 4p1000.

One topic will be at the heart of discussions and negotiations, with strong expectations, particularly from developing countries: financing.

First, the transformation of agriculture, particularly in the Global South. The main challenge is to increase productivity to meet food security requirements while preserving natural resources. However, financing agriculture and the creation of agri-food industries, where they hardly exist, often requires heavy and sometimes high-carbon investments.

Do these sources of financing have a place, particularly in the portfolios of bilateral and multilateral donors, but also banks? Are they consistent with decarbonization trajectories?

The COP will then discuss financing for loss and damage, with the possible creation of a fund to provide financial assistance to the most vulnerable countries to repair the irreversible damage caused by climate change. This is a first step considered essential to meet the aspirations of many countries calling for a form of climate justice.

This subject of financing is particularly close to our hearts at the FARM Foundation, and it will be the theme of our next International Conference on February 13.